After my Stumpjumper was recently stolen, I have heard back that I am getting a payout or voucher if I get the bike through the Wheelies. The payout is about 2500. The voucher is about 3500. I'm not going to be adding much money to the pot, so the bike will need to be in that region.
I'm aware that stock will be an issue, but I'm not in a rush as I have other bikes.
My stumpjumper was a 2016 model, and I'm aware that geo has moved on a lot since then. Unfortunately, stock issues and having a 1 year old mean test riding lots of bikes is going to be more or less impossible.
Criteria: 29er, 130-160mm travel, long frame warranty (I keep bikes a long time). That's about it. There are so many nice looking bikes in this category. The Orbea Occam looks nice, but not sure of their durability?
So, what do you guys recommend? Also, has anyone got any experience of Wheelies?
Thanks
Tom
I had a pay out 18 months ago. I got full value for anything Wheelies couldn't provide (which was most of it).
They have only one full sus under £3.5k. Tell them to provide a Stumpjumper, or the full value to go elsewhere.
I was in a similar position and 3-4 bikes stuck out for me, I needed to use a c2w voucher and add cash but here's my thoughts on them:
1 - Orbea Occam. Looked great and many positive views, however is very trail focussed and I do some bike park days etc so wanted something a little tougher but still with 130-140mm travel.
2 - Propain Hugene. This looked like my favourite however with brexit and lack of options to purchase with a c2w voucher, this didn't work out but was the front runner for me.
3 - Bird Aether 9. Looked like a great bike for what I need and I'd test ridden before but there wasn't much spark for me. Very capable just didn't excite me like the hugene.
4 - Nukeproof Reactor 290 comp. I actually discounted this last year due to the sram sx gearing however the move to 12 speed deore helped convince me. One came available in a shop not too far away so I grabbed it and I'm very glad I did. It's got a solid build and has been great at Llandegla and Delamere last week. Not very sprightly on the ups but far better than a big soft enduro sled.
The Orbea Occam looks nice, but not sure of their durability?
Ooh
Orbea Occam. Looked great and many positive views
And ooh
Funnily enough, I opened this thread to suggest an Occam. Hopefully the preamble will get across the fact that it wasn't just " buy whatever I have"
Anyway, got an Occam M10 in November. I'd been looking for a low/ mid travel do lots of everything bike, but then rented an Occam in the lakes for three days and loved it. So I bought one.
Used it a couple of times in the peak. Was hugely disappointed. The ( Shimano) 12 speed made an unbelievable racket when wet/muddy. It was slow uphill and got billions of pedal strikes. Got to the stage where I didn't bother taking it out any more as it was clearly shit. Really regretted not getting a Izzo. ( It was good downhill though)
Anyway, fast forward 7 months...
I've replaced the cranks with 165s.
Put a 28t chainring on it.
Moved the seat forward a bit.
Swapped the tyres to something much more suitable... Ikon and Reckon 2.6s
Gone tubeless
And used it loads more ( admittedly, only in the dry)
I've also taken it out much more on more techy lakes trails rather than the relatively tame Peak District stuff.
And I absolutely love it for that. Going down Styhead tarn route on Saturday was an absolute revelation. It was amazing. It just seemed to float over everything. I had an absute ball.
Likewise Birkside & Sticks on Helvellyn were great. Nan Bield was good. The Beast feels like an absolute path ( which it probably is)
Etc etc.
Theres a big caveat here that I've not done any long rides on it yet, but that's mainly down to me not feeling great these last half year. I think the only moderately long ride I did was to cycle to and from one of the Disley mob peak District evening rides last month. I think it was about 45km on road and 25km off road. Not immense, but good for an evening. It would have been purgatory withe the Minnion on, but with the Ikon/Reckon combo it was eminently manageable.
I'm still avoiding taking it out in the wet/ mud, but apart from that I'm very pleased. IF I do feel up to the Jennride this weekend then I'll take it instead of the Anthem. It's 13.6kg including pedals (large)
/Waffle
You appear to be Donnie based? If you fancy meeting up midweek in the peak for an evening ride then you could try it out ( on a " if you break it then you replace it " basis)
Thanks guys. Still waiting for things to come up on Wheelies, quite a few bikes on now but not sure on them - Nukeproof Mega (too heavy for most of normal riding, I don't get to bike parks that often - unless it's fine for trail riding too?), Mondraker Foxy (can't find much love for it) and the new Marin Alpine Trail. Anyone tried one of those?
